The Walrus Says

By Jim Munro

Celebrate the beginning of the new season with the rousing and comforting music of the Jamestown Community Band at its spring concert this Tuesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at the Portuguese American Citizens Club.

Band Director Bethany Clarke has put together a program of 15 selections ranging from marches to interpretations of English folk and sea tunes, including music being presented by the band for the first time. “There are a lot of different and intensive emotions in our new pieces,” Clarke said.

Refreshments will be served following the concert. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

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The island’s eighth graders are continuing their spring garden bulb sale, stopping at homes to offer 18 selections of plantings that will be delivered to buyers in May.

The students are also available for spring yard clean-up work and interested homeowners can make arrangements by calling Deb at the Teen Center at 423-7261. All monies earned from the bulb sale and clean-ups go toward the class trip to Washington, D.C. in June.

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Marilyn Dutton called in to answer Dave Duffy’s query about the islander who produced the “Dukes of Hazzard.” She said it was Paul Romeo Picard, who lived on Clarke Street. “He used to tease the daylights out of me when we were little,” she said.

Robert Goode also said it was Paul R. Picard, who had grown up with Martin O’Brian. Goode added that his cousin, Victor Goode, was the soundman on the series and that it was distributed by Warner Bros.

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Peter Pemantell’s question about who were the janitors/maintenance men at the island schools brought this reply from Mary Frances Czarnetzki Doss in Corning, Calif.

“I recall a Mr. Brayman at Carr and a Mr. Glenn at T.H. Clarke,” she wrote.

Shirley also asks, “Who was the first janitor at the new Jamestown School and who was his assistant?” She said the janitor had learned the ropes from William Glenn.

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Bird lovers who find themselves in the Wakefield area will want to stop at Nature View on Main Street just south of and on the same side as the Mews Tavern. It has it all.

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More on Nelson Eddy: Cynthia (Daly) Pinson of Seabrook, Texas, writes, “My mother (Astrid Knowles) used to sell rugs for the blind back in the late 1950s and one of her customers was Nelson Eddy’s father and step-mother. The first time she went to the house and saw his photo on their piano, she was thrilled to find out that Nelson Eddy was their son. I have the Press
delivered to me here in Texas so I can keep up on what’s going on in town between my twice yearly visits.” She signed off, adding, “Missing Jamestown Beyond Belief.”

Phyllis Anderson called from Wilmington, Ohio, to say that Nelson Eddy never lived in Jamestown, only his parents.

*** I wonder who paid for the elaborate newsletter from Sen. M. Teresa Paiva-Weed that arrived in my mailbox last week?

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And for the latest in the Presidents’ Day controversy, Jan Tabit, who lives just outside Washington, D.C., responds to Larry Lewis, “I stand corrected. I have lived here 40 years and did not realize. Went to OPM’s site and you are correct.”

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In 1948, Fred Astaire starred in “Easter Parade,” which had great music by Irving Berlin. Who played his young dancing partner, whom he discovered and turned into a star?

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From John A. Murphy: “The Alaska license tags on vehicles around town remind me of the number of military families we have living in our community. Most of them are stationed here during a relatively brief period while a husband or wife attends the Naval War College. Frequently, these families have children attending our schools. We are lucky to have them here, and our community is enriched by their presence.”

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Some good stuff from John: “In the Fellini movie ‘La Dolce Vita’ (the sweet life), as the voluptuous Anita Ekberg is cavorting in Rome’s Trevi Fountain, a great song that became a big hit in the U.S. is playing on the soundtrack. What is that song?

“Another hit by the same musician was a favorite song of the Jamestown Drum & Bugle Corps in the 1950s. What is that song?

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Our pussy willow tree is in full bloom!

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Collaboration ‘10 closes down this weekend at the Jamestown Gallery at 47 Conanicus Ave. It’s a great opportunity to purchase from a treasure trove of island talent and at the same time, help support the new Jamestown Arts Center.

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A happy story of persistence from eighth-grader Jan Trousilek:

“Recently, my friends and I were at Head’s Beach, when an unfortunate thing occurred. My new iPod slipped out of my pocket and fell into a hole in the jetty. My friends and I could still hear the music playing. After about 30 minutes of trying to move rocks and find where it had landed, we gave up hope, and left in my friend’s car.

“About an hour later, I received a text message on my phone from one of the friends who had been with me, Ellissa (Lissy) Barclay. During this time, I was already on Apple trying to find out how to replace a lost/stolen iPod. As I went through the text message, a photo was attached to the bottom. I clicked ‘open,’ and there was a picture of my friend’s hand with my iPod in it.

“I immediately called her house and asked her if it was a joke. Turns out it was not. Armed with a flashlight, a bungee cord, a metal pipe, and a stick with tape on the end, she, her mother, and family friend Kenny Caswell had gotten it out of the jetty with minimal damage and little to no scratches.

“I would like to send my sincerest thank-you to Lissy, Amy Barclay (her mother) and Kenny, Amy’s friend, for taking an hour out of their lives to help with an issue that was not even theirs. I hope they are all well and I give my best regards to them for helping retrieve my newly bought iPod.”

This adds a whole new meaning to the words “rock music.”

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Tonight’s movie at 7 at the Jamestown Philomenian Library is “Il Postino,” a 1994 Italian film. And, on Sunday afternoon at 3, the popular award-winning duo Atwater & Donnelly will present their unique traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance, as well as original songs and poetry.

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The full moon on Tuesday is the Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Lenten Moon and Worm Moon.

*** Be true!

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Call in your stuff to 423-0383or 829-2760, or email us at jtnwalrus@hotmail.com.